Headlines :vocabulary and grammar The structure of headline The headline writer has to keep two principles in mind:First he must attract the attention and interest of the reader. Secondly, he must give the reader some idea of what the article is about. . Articles and the verb “to be” are frequently omitted, e.g. MAN HELD;COMPANIES MORE CAREFUL. . The verb system is greatly simplified: en present or the past, e.g. WOMEN DRIVE BETTER THAN MEN CLAIMS REPORT; DYNAMITE KILLS 52 (meaning “killed”). The present simple tense is used to describe something happening in the The present simple tense is used to describe both something happening now ,and something which happens repeatedly, e.g. US VISIT TESTS THE POPE AS POTENTIAL WORLD LEADER. « The present progressive tense is sometimes used , mostly to give the meaning of something that is developing. The auxiliary verb is omitted, e.g. RAIL CHAOS GETTING WORSE. « The infinitive is used to refer to the future e.g. TV TO AID THE DEAF. e in passive constructions the auxiliary is omitted and only the past participle is used, e. g. QUEEN TOLD OF DRINK AT BOYS SCHOOL; HIJACKER ARRESTED . 3. A series of nouns used as adjectives are blocked together, often without any verbs or conjunctions, e.g. SHOTGUN DEATH RIDDLE DRAMA; PAY ROW BLACKOUT THREAT; SOCCER BOY RAIL VICTIM. The vocabulary of headlines Headline word Meaning Example Accor agreement WAGES ACCORD REACHED aD help MAW AIDS POLICE axe cut, destroy, take away LABOUR AXE COLLEGES IN TORY TOWNS suppor UNIONS BACK PEACE MOVE onan prohibition pus nan ON PUPS AFTER ATTACK ON CREW oar exclude, prohibit SOUTH AFRICA BARS TEAM nD atcempt [NEW PEACE BID IN RHODESIA spLast explosion POLICE IN LONDON PROBE BLAST soiaze fire FAMILY DIES IN BLAZE now injury/disappointment suffered CARTER POLL BLOW *200sT help, incentive INDUSTRY GETS BOOST scuast dispute, violent argument STRIKERS IN CLASH WITH POLICE cour revolution, change in government GENERALS OUSTED IN COUP cus restraint, limit, NEW CURBS ON IMMIGRATION eur reductio BIG CUTS IN AIR FARES DEAL agreement PAY PITS DEAL HOPE *pnive campaign, effort PEACE DRIVE SUCCEEDS ENVOY diplomat [AMERICAN ENVOY TAKEN HOSTAGE sexi leave [EXIT ENVOYS IN RACE STORM.